Maude w



(N-oMoael.)

M. W. TooKE,

' BUSTLE.

Patented Oct'. 18, 1887.l

NTTE STATES MADE IV. TOOKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

eUsTL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,905, dated October18, 1887.

Application filed July 1, 1887. Serial No. 243,123. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAUDE'W. TooKna, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York,have invented'a new and useful Improvement in Bustles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bustles, and has for its objectto provide a bustle which can be readily folded into a small compasswhen not in use, which will retain its shape when on the wearer, andwhich can be adjusted in its shapeas suits the wearer. y

A further object is to provide a bustle of simple construction whichwill belight, strong, and durable.V 4

These objects I attain by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of abustle coustrucled in accordance with myiuvention. Fig. 2 is a similarview showing it folded, and Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which the same lettersof refereueeindicate the same parts throughout the Vseveral views, Adesignates a flat spring-band, having its ends a a brought together andsecured, as shown, to form the base of the bustle. B B designate twostraps, of any suitable material, provided with buckles b b and securedacross the base of the bustle, as shown. These straps, whenproperly'tightened, serve to give the base A of the bustle an ellipticalshape, whereby it acquires the necessary tension to maintain the shapeof the bustle when it is in use. G, D, and E designateV cross bars orbands, which have their ends pivotally secured to the base-band ondiametrically-opposite sides of the same. These bands are of unequallength, the uppermost one, C, being the longest, and the lowest one, E,being the shortest. rlhe top band, C, also is secured to the outer sidesof the base-band, while the middle band, D, and the lowest band, E, aresecured to the inner sides of the same. This construction enables me tofold the bustleinto a small compass when it is not in use, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, the cross-bands D E folding within the baseband, andthe band C assum ing a position outside of the same and nearlyconcentric therewith. These cross bars or bands support the clothing ofthe wearer; and in order to increase their efficiency in this respect Iprovide the strap F, of tape or other suitable material, having itsopposite ends secured, respectively, to the top and bottom ofthebase-band, and being secured at intermediate points to the cross-bands CD E at the center of the same, as shown. This strap F serves to pre- 5ovent the weight of the clothing pressing` the cross bars or bands downto such an extent as to destroy the shape of the bustle. It also servesas a means for drawing the cross bands or bars into their nornialposition after being 5 5 folded, as shown in Fig. 2, as the ellipticalshape of the spring-band composing the base of the bustle causes the topand bottom of the same to draw upon the ends of the said strap F, sothat the crossbands will be thereby 7e made to assume their normalposition.

It will be readily seen from the drawings .that inasmuch as thecross-bands fold toward i the top of the bustle the bottom of thebascband will exert a greater pull on the strap F than the top will; andin order to ease the strain on said strap I provide the supple mentalstraps G I-I, which have their lowest ends secured to the bottom of thebase-band and their upper ends secured to the top cross' 8o band, C, andat intermediate points to the lower cross-bands, D E. I designates thewaistband, which is secured to the top portion of the base of the bustleby means of the straps J, as shown. 85

In usethe bustle is secured in position in the usual manner, and thestraps B are adj usted properly to give the bustle the shape desired bythe wearer.

It will be seen that I have provided a bustle 9o of very simpleconstruction, and which is light and cool.

When not in use, the bustle can be folded into a small compass, and willconsequently occupy very little room. This feature will be found to beof peculiar advantage in packing a large number of the bristles fortransporta tion. Another feature of my invention is its adj ustabilityin size and shape to' suit the tastes of the wearer. rIhe straps ortapes can roe be drawn in or let out by means-of the buckles for thispurpose.

Having thus .described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. A bustle comprising the waistband, the continuous flat springbase-band suspended loosely therefrom, and a series of bowed crossbandsarranged between and pivoted to the sides of the base band at differentpoints thereofupon independentpivots, substantially as set forth.

2. A bustle comprising the waistband, a Hat elliptical spring base bandsuspended loosely therefrom and having its ends secured together, andthe transverse adj usting-straps secured across the base-band near thetop and bottom of the same, substantially as set forth.

3. A bustle comprising the waistband, a flat spring base-band looselysuspended therefrom, a series of cross-bands pivotally secured to thebase-band at different points of attachment, and a series oflongitudinal straps connected to the base-band and the cross-bands, thecentral one of said straps being extended above the cross-bands andsecured to the top of the base-band, substantially as set forth.

4;. A bustle comprising the waistband, the elliptical base-band providedwith transverse adj Listing-straps, the straps J, loosely suspending thebase-band from the waistband, and the bowed cross-bands of differentradii" pivoted tothe base-band independently of each other,substantially as specified.

5. A bustle comprising a waistband, the continuous spring base-bandsuspended loosely therefrom, the bowed or curved cross-bands arrangedbetween and pivotally secured to the sides of the base-band, thelongitudinal straps connecting the base and cross bands, and the adjlisting-straps B, connecting the sides of the base-band, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAUDE W. TOOKER.

Witnesses:

Mrs. C. J. HALEY, WM. V. A. PoE.

